2 Great Pub Food Stops in the Central West

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Posted 2013-02-21 by Linda Moon ⇒ follow

A visit to the Central West of NSW, offers a chance to experience something totally different from the city or the coast. Long empty highways, wide skies and vista's of fields stretching forever. As anyone knows, at the end of a lengthy journey, everyone needs some good grub, a break from the road and some warm country hospitality.

While the Central West doesn't rank highly in many lists of places to go, on a recent tour of pub food, I discovered that some gems do indeed exist in whoop whoop. These were two of my faves. If you're in the area, check them out.

The Gladstone Hotel – Two Sisters Restaurant

You'll find this pub on a quiet country lane in the middle of whoop whoop – or more technically in Three Brothers Road, Newbridge. Where's that you say? It's a tiny town of 100 or so folk, within the shire of Blayney, about 30km from Bathurst.

Inside this original old-style building you will find an assortment of tourists and locals chilling amongst the homely, good quality furnishings. Surprisingly, for a place in the midst of nowhere, the vibe here is lively and on the Sunday I visited, the country style, white-table clothed dining room was booked out for lunch. No cause for concern. One can always grab a seat in the more casual eating area of the pub or in the covered beer garden outside.

The Two Sisters Restaurant offers the usual old pub staples like rissoles, bangers and mash, spag bowl & burgers with chips. Melts and some Asian inspired dishes add some variety to the usual meat-based menu. Portions are generous, so leave some room for the scones, dessert or the massive pot of tea. Vegetarian options, though scarce, do exist – such as the vege burger and soup. Prices of meals range from $9.50-$28.

There's a jukebox and pool table in the dining area. Free live music offered on Sunday arvo's between 1-4pm showcases the local talent. Thankfully, the music isn't overly loud. Our solo performer turns out to be a young female guitarist / singer, who proves there is talent aplenty in Blayney. Who said nothing happens in whoop whoop?

Operated by two sisters, the Gladstone Hotel provides genuine country hospitality with a feminine touch. What makes this place a winner isn't so much the food, but the friendly and helpful staff and the laid-back country ambience. This feels like another, slower, and in some respects – more polite world. With its chance for city-siders to chill, you may find yourself, like me, wanting to linger.

The Gladdy, as it's known by the locals, accepts all credit cards, has ATM facilities, wheelchair access, two fireplaces and offers coffee, tea and cakes as well as local Bathurst wines under the Renzaglia label.

Opening Hours: Thur-Sat 6pm-9pm; Sat noon-2.30pm; Sun 11am-2.30pm
Address: Trunkey Road, Newbridge. Technically this is in 3 Brothers Road. If your GPS can't find it, try Trunkey street, Trunkey road and 3 Brothers Road.
Phone: 02 6368 1004
Website: http://thegladstonehotel.com.au/two-sisters-restaurant/

Tarana Hotel, Tarana

Arriving here on a weekend, feels like you're gate-crashing a huge country picnic in the middle of nowhere.

Where the hell is Tarana you ask? A 30 minute drive from either Lithgow or Bathurst through lovely green hills. I recommend both the drive and the destination.

This locals' pub is packed and lively, and competition rightly exists for a sunny seat in the outdoor beer garden. Overlooking the green hills of Tarana, the beer garden (capacity for 80 people) has an appealing country ambience that makes it a top place to be on a sunny day. On an overcast day the same can't be said. However, there is a smallish indoor dining room (known as the "shearing shed") for such occasions. I would call it dingy, but those who like original old features, would say atmospheric.

The meals are generous, tasty and unpretentious and the menu extensive. The biggest positive is the side-salad strewn with pineapple, watermelon, pasta and crisp vegetables. Now, that's what I call a side-salad. The biggest down-side is having to pay extra for gravy.

On top of the standard pub fare choices (steaks, burgers, seafood, chicken dishes, salads, snacks) there are daily specials. Vegetarians will find something (like the veg lasagna) but for this group, the selections aren't huge. There's a kids menu for the small fry. The beer garden looks out on tiny Tarana station, a rail station that not only looks cute, but actually functions. While I was there, several children of the patrons spilled out onto the hillside to look at it.

Gluten-free bread and soy milk are available on request.
Prices for meals range from $6.50-$32. The Tarana Hotel takes Mastercard and Visa and has both EFTPOS and ATM facilities.
The pub and beer garden have wheelchair access.

Opening Hours: daily from noon-3pm for lunch and from 5-8pm for dinner, Sun 8-10am, 5-7pm
Address: Main Street, Tarana. As the only pub in town it's easy to find.
Phone: 02 6337 5841
Website: http://www.taranahotel.com.au/